Full-Time

Principal Water/Wastewater

Updated on 8/18/2026

Apex Companies

Apex Companies

1,001-5,000 employees

National environmental consulting and engineering firm

Compensation Overview

$180k - $220k/yr

Providence, RI, USA + 3 more

More locations: Woburn, MA, USA | Glastonbury, CT, USA | Quincy, MA, USA

Hybrid

Hybrid role; relocation to Massachusetts, Rhode Island, or Connecticut will be considered.

Bachelor's, Master's

Category
Engineering Management (1)
Required Skills
Risk Management
Marketing

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Requirements
  • A BS or MS degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or another relevant discipline.
  • 15+ years of relevant experience in the water/wastewater industry.
  • Registration as a Professional Engineer or other professional certification or registration appropriate for the primary field of expertise in the states where work is performed, or the ability to obtain it by reciprocity is preferred.
Responsibilities
  • Foster a culture of growth, innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning within the company.
  • Lead and inspire teams of engineers, scientists, project managers, and support staff to deliver high-quality project results.
  • Recruit, mentor, and develop junior and mid-level staff, promoting their growth and career advancement.
  • Cultivate, engage, and maintain strong relationships with new and existing clients and partners.
  • Support implementation of business practices and processes.
  • Lead projects from project development through completion, identifying schedules, scopes, budget estimates, and implementation plans, including quality assurance/quality control and risk management.
  • Champion quality assurance/quality control procedures and policies.
  • Understand contract risks, terms and conditions, and professional liability matters, and mitigate risk in consultation with senior management or divisional leadership.
  • Address and resolve complex situations related to project execution, client demands, fiscal management, growth initiatives, business development, staffing, and administrative matters.
  • Prepare proposals and scopes of work and review or approve project budgets prepared by project managers.
  • Complete project initiation documents containing the detailed scope, budget, and completion schedule.
  • Manage project implementation with the project team according to company operating procedures and planned schedules.
  • Keep clients informed of project status and provide management, advice, and support to project team members.
  • Delegate tasks to project managers and other staff with appropriate support.
  • Coordinate with peers and subconsultants to anticipate and address schedule and staffing conflicts.
  • Supervise interdisciplinary teams, including project managers, subcontractors, subconsultants, and staff, during project execution and scheduling.
  • Provide technical advice and contribute to project recommendations.
  • Produce and ensure the quality of technical memoranda, reports, and presentations in accordance with company standards and quality-control procedures.
  • Meet regularly with clients to discuss projects, company performance, client satisfaction, and cross-selling opportunities.
  • Work with project managers to track project costs and ensure timely invoicing in accordance with company policy.
  • Negotiate amendments and change orders, consulting senior management or divisional leadership on sensitive matters.
  • Identify and pursue new business opportunities, cross-selling opportunities, competitive bids, and opportunities involving new technology or regulatory factors.
  • Solicit new clients and projects, arrange meetings with current and prospective clients, and support proposal development.
  • Proactively identify cross-selling opportunities outside the area of expertise.
  • Manage and lead the sales process for existing clients, including large, complex, and multi-project client relationships.
  • Prepare proposals, lead proposal teams, participate in project interviews, negotiate fees, prepare contracts, and present information to prospective clients.
  • Recognize strengths and improvement areas for project staff and manage, support, and evaluate direct reports.
  • Perform or participate in annual staff reviews where appropriate.
  • Manage direct reports, including onboarding, offboarding, workload management, time and expense approval, career-path development, and performance management.
  • Assist with recruitment, interviews, onboarding, and hiring-manager or assimilation-partner duties.
  • Identify strategic hires and target key recruiting candidates to support company financial and strategic goals.
Desired Qualifications
  • Professional Engineer registration or another appropriate professional certification or registration in the states where work is performed, or the ability to obtain it by reciprocity.
  • Recognition as a subject-matter expert in a relevant practice area.

Apex Companies provides environmental consulting and engineering services to public agencies and private clients across all 50 states. Its offerings include water resources management, environmental remediation, health and safety, compliance assurance, ESG advisory, and infrastructure engineering, delivering work from site assessments to managing complex projects. A key differentiator is the breadth of services across environmental, health and safety, and ESG, plus its ARTEMIS data-management platform that organizes environmental information for risk mitigation and lending. The company aims to help clients manage environmental risk, achieve regulatory compliance, and efficiently complete projects while expanding its national footprint.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Rockville, Maryland

Founded

1988

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Apex earned Zweig’s 2026 Hot Firm No. 28 ranking, signaling strong growth momentum.
  • Tully and CWE expanded Apex’s stormwater, civil engineering, and California footprint in 2026.
  • March 2026 and February 2026 acquisitions broadened Apex’s municipal and private-market project pipeline.

What critics are saying

  • Private equity ownership pressures Apex to chase integrations and leverage before 2027.
  • Apex’s acquisition spree risks cultural friction and margin dilution across California, Florida, and Intermountain West.
  • A single failed integration or buyer slowdown could break Apex’s roll-up story and stall growth.

What makes Apex Companies unique

  • Apex combines water, environmental, and infrastructure services under one national platform.
  • Morgan Stanley Capital Partners backs Apex, enabling acquisitions like Tully and CWE in 2026.
  • Apex’s ARTEMIS data tools and stormwater lifecycle expertise deepen client lock-in.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

401(k) Company Match

Paid Vacation

Paid Sick Leave

Relocation Assistance

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

17%

1 year growth

17%

2 year growth

17%
Apex Companies
Mar 18th, 2026
Apex Companies Acquires CWE

Apex Companies announced the acquisition of CWE, an award-winning civil infrastructure, water resources, and environmental engineering services firm with multiple offices in California.

Associated Press
Feb 17th, 2026
Apex Companies Acquires Tully, Inc.

Adds to Core Stormwater Strength and Enhances Ability to Deliver the Full Stormwater Lifecycle in Northern California

EIN News
Jan 5th, 2026
Raincatcher Advises AquaWorks DBO on Its Acquisition by Apex Companies

Raincatcher, a national mergers and acquisitions advisory firm serving small to mid-size businesses, served as the exclusive sell-side advisor to AquaWorks DBO,

EIN News
Nov 3rd, 2025
Apex Companies Acquires Forsgren Associates, Inc.

Bolsters Engineering Depth and Extends Operational Presence in Intermountain West

EIN News
Nov 26th, 2024
Apex Acquires Weiler Engineering in Florida

Apex Companies, LLC has acquired Weiler Engineering Corporation, a Florida-based engineering firm. This acquisition enhances Apex's engineering capabilities and strengthens its presence in Florida. Weiler Engineering, with over 45 professionals, brings expertise in civil, structural, and utilities engineering. This move follows Apex's recent acquisitions of Johnson Engineering and Water Science Associates, further expanding its services in the municipal and private markets.